Challenges of Adult Education Programme Implementation in Adamawa State Public Schools

This study investigates the challenges confronting adult education programme implementation in public schools in Adamawa State, North East Nigeria. The Northeast geopolitical zone has historically recorded the lowest adult literacy rates in Nigeria, and the disruption caused by the Boko Haram insurgency has further set back educational access for adults in the region. Public schools in Adamawa State serve as secondary venues for adult education delivery, but implementation challenges in this context have not been systematically documented. This study uses a descriptive survey design and collects data from 95 adult education teachers, programme coordinators, and local government education authority officers in Yola, Mubi, and Numan. Challenges assessed include funding inadequacy, teacher motivation, learner attendance, community awareness, and security concerns. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests are applied. Findings reveal that inadequate instructional materials, poor teacher remuneration, and community distrust of government programmes are the three most frequently cited implementation barriers. Security concerns in border communities significantly affect learner attendance and facilitator retention. The study also identifies the lack of a dedicated adult education budget line at the local government level as a structural impediment. The study concludes that adult education implementation in Adamawa State public schools requires a holistic strategy addressing both funding and community trust deficits. It recommends community engagement campaigns led by traditional and religious leaders, supplementary facilitator incentives, and a ring-fenced state-level adult education budget.

Keywords: adult education, implementation challenges, Adamawa State, North East Nigeria, public schools.